Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-10-20
Tom Hemper's Escape.

The wonderful providence that saved old
Tom lIemper from tho vengeance of tht
Comache Indians fifteen or sixteen years
ago has been discussed Ia many western
fort aud around many a hunters camp fire.
That his adventures were true in every par
tionlar can be vouchod for by n dozen liy'
Ing persons to-day, though old Tom himself
was wiped out "A dozen years ago. lie MAS
n scout, hunter and guide, and he took "A
party OF amateur hunters and sportsmeu
from Santa Fe down the Canadian river in
10 Texas and the land of the Comachcs.
The party numbered twenty-five men, some
of them being English tourists, and they
were undisturbed for two weeks after got
ting down 10 what is called the great elbow
of the Canadian. Then Indian signs be-
came very fresh, and one morning old Tom
started out on scout Two other old hun
ters with the party remained in camp.
The Canadian runs alongside of noun
tain range for several hundred miles, and
this range is broken with many small val
leyS and creeks. Tom went to the east ms
he left camp, keeping between the foot bill Is
and the river He was on foot and alert
but after Il walk of an hour he discovered
no signs, and had To conclude that the In
dians had approached from the other dircc-
tiom. just as he was on the poin; Of tArn'
ing back ho found II spring of leo cold wa
| ter, and had to lie down ON his stomach 10
reach il and satisfy his thirst. He was
drinking when something alighted on his
back. He first thought IL was n panther.
but the next instant he saw the Logging of Il
red skin and knew that he was a prisoner.
| When pulled 10 his feet lac found himself in
the presence of three COmanches, who were
out after game. His great'surprise seemed
10 please them immonneiy, but they offered
him no violence whatever. He was first
disarmed his hands then tied behind his
| back, and the Indians gave him TO under
stand that he was 10 accompany them 10
their village. Willie there was no Indian
war at that time, the sAvages were hostile
10 any and all white men who Invaded their
domain, and old Tom swiftly realized that
he was in bad scrape. lie could speak
and understood the CoInauche dialect with
perfect ease, but this fact he kept To him
tors said
"lIe is an old hunter and we shall have 4
good time burning him. lie is probably
the leader of the party below"
'We went ont after deer and captured a
white man." laughed the one addressed.
keep your eye ON him, for he IL evidently
as brave rs a bear and ms strong IA horse, i"
The prisoner WAS conducted about three
which point Comanchc village was loca-
ted. 1t Was in "A valley about three miles
long and wide, and contained sixty or sew
| enty lodges. Nearly all the warriors Of the
| village were away watching the white par
! ~, but rs soon as The prisoner cnt~re,i- tLa
village messenger was dispatched TO bring
| them III. Before noon all had returned, and
there Was great rejoicing over the capture
| of the hunter. The head chief of the tribe
was expected ut the camp on the morrow,
and il was decided not TO do anything with
| the prisoner until his arrival.
Tom was showed into n lodge and three
warriors placed on guard over him. While
they evidently feared him they at the same
| time wanted 10 keep hIm fresh and strong
for the "fun" next day, and they therefore
gave him plenty 10 eat and drink and did
not even tie his hands. He realized what
IL. -
his escape, but any attempt to take French
leave with three warriors on guard would
have been his death. Every five or six
minutes one of them looked into the lodge,
and until late hour of the night the whole
populace were on the move and helping TO
keep watch. All thoughts of attacking the
party below were given up for the time be
ing, and every one looked forward for fine
entertainment on the morrow. Tom heard
| the iiend discussing in what ways they
should torture him. One Of the guards
said that he had seen a white man hung up
to limb with stick thrust through the
bones of his leg, rs the farmer hangs up n
| slaughtered hog and that he lived for half
a day. One wanted TO skin him alive, an
other believed in n slow fire, and almost ev-
cry one who came up had n suggestion 10
make. 1t was concluded that he would die
game, and that his equal had not been cap.
tured for years.
"Seeing there was no chance of escape
just then" said Old Tom, 81 made up my
mind there was no use fretting over the
ease, and took things easy. | ate hcarti.
ly, and about 10 o'clock at night turned in
and slept like n brick until after day
light / intended 10 take advantage of the
very first opening, and knew that would
not come before | was led out in the morn
ing. Where they set out 10 have n regular
holiday over prisoner, running the gaunt-
let is always the first thing in order, and it
offers the only opportunity to bolt"
1t was nine o'clock next morning before the
big chief and his staff arrived, and an hour
later the prisoner was brought out. The
warriors had arranged themselves in two
lines, and were armed with clabs and
switches. Old Tom was taken TO the head
of the lines, and n warrior who could speak
little English made him understand that
he was to run to the foot of the line and re-
turn, and that If he ran fast and strong he
would be set at liberty on his return. This
was all stuff, of course, hut it is always CIV
en- out TO every prisoner to encourage him.
The chief called out to the men not to hit
the prisoner too hard, and all was ready for
the start. Tom intended to wheel square
about and make run for the river. There
was not one shance in n thousand for him,
but he preferred death by the bullet to death
by torture He was even bracing himself
for his run when there were shouts of alarm
all around him, ana he saw two Indian
boys coming down the valley on horseback,
making signs as they came. Tom was hur-
| riel hack to the lodge the yillape was all